Mayur hails coal power option

Business

MAYUR Resources has positioned itself as an independent 100 per cent PNG industrial minerals and energy player, managing director Paul Mulder says.
Mulder said it had received much attention on its Lae Enviro Energy Park for the use of coal in PNG.
“Other forms of energy such as woodchip biomass, solar and cogeneration waste heat are being overlooked as well as the bigger energy mix drive for PNG,” he said.
Mulder highlighted that in its cement and lime project, for instance, “gas was a very important energy source that it wished to utilise in the project”.
He said it was extremely high calibre energy development and had also been approached about assisting a PNG-based hydro development project that it was continuing to assess.
“We are focused on being fuel-agnostic on the basis of a better environmental outcome, and cheaper, more reliable cost of energy could be secured,” Mulder said.
“Our focus is to contribute in developing for PNG, an energy mix that diversifies and provides PNG protection against just having one or two energy sources at its disposal.
“Asian-based economies have several forms of energy, with coal and gas by and far being the largest, but with increasing hydro and renewables.
“PNG is not immune to being totally exposed to be able to supply long-term, cheap energy to the country, should it not adopt an energy mix.
“Take for instance a future where 50 per cent of PNG’s power relied upon gas and there was another severe earthquake in the Highlands, but this time the outcome is more severe, where the epicentre and landslides take out the Exxon Total sites.
“What is PNG then left with?
“Whilst we all hope this is a remote outcome over many decades, neighbouring economies around PNG have adopted a risk-and-cost-based diversification plan that, whilst focusing on least cost, ensures diversification and a broad base energy mix is adopted.
“All countries of economic note around PNG have an energy mix of gas, coal and hydro – which is not going to largely change over the coming two decades.
“If one wants to test this, look at India, Japan and China’s forecast use of coal and gas.
“These are realities based on fact – not some NGO putting up a photo of a 25-year-old outdated coal plant that would never be allowed to be built in this day and age.”